Inherited and Learned Characteristics...

1. Inherited and Learned Characteristics... Some things you just can’t change….

2. Likenesses between Parents and Offspring (that’s you) • Do you have the same color eyes as your mother or your father? • Do you have the same hair color as either parent? • Offspring(children) - are often like their parents in many ways. • Ex: a seed from a yellow rose plant will grow into another yellow rose plant. Both plants (parents and offspring) will have the same type of leaves. • This also is true for humans. If your parents both have earlobes that are attached to their head, chances are, you will too!

3. Earlobes

4. Inherited Characteristics • Inherited characteristics are passed from parents to their offspring (children). These cannot be changed. • Physical Characteristics such as earlobes, height, eye color are examples of inherited characteristics. • The genetic “instructions” are given to the offspring by the parents.

5. Examples of Inherited Characteristics • Some people can roll the edges of their tongue up and others can’t. • Some people can move their fingers in two groups to make a “Vulcan” sign like Mr. Spoc on Star Trek. • Some people have a “widows” peak hairline while others have a straight hairline.

6. Instinctive Behaviors • Inherited traits include instinctive behaviors, which means animals are born with them. • Here are a few examples: • Birds having the desire to fly south for winter. • A baby turtle hatching from its shell and heading towards sea. • Some animals hibernate in the winter in order to survive. Baby Turtle returns to sea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt299DvXFJ

7. Learned Characteristics • Not all likenesses between parents and offspring are inherited. • Some likenesses are learned. • Learned behaviors are behaviors that an animal, especially humans, that develop in response to their environment.

8. Examples of Learned Characteristics • Worker ants can learn a series of landmarks along a trail. This helps them return to their colony. • You have learned table manners. Your parents have taught you to use a knife and a fork correctly when eating. • Trainers can teach seals to balance a ball on their nose, or teach a dog fetch a stick. • Your super awesome teachers have also taught you how to read, multiply, divide, and even have taught you about Learned and Inherited Characteristics.

9. OR Inherited Trait Learned Characteristics Speaking a Language Tying your shoelaces Cactus spines Color of a bird’s feathers Birds building a nest Avoiding bad-tasting prey Biting your finger nails

10. Interactive sites • http://www.amnh.org/ology/?channel=genetics&c#features/naturewalk?TB_iframe=true&height=400&width=600 • http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/traits/

11. NOTE TIME!!! • An inherited trait is something passed down by a plant or animal from its parents. • Many inherited traits are physical characteristics. These traits include eye color and hair color, or the shape of a leaf. • Instinctive Behaviors:Some inherited traits are instinctive behaviors– such as birds flying south in the winter. • Inherited traits cannot be changed.

12. NOTE TIME CONTINUED!!! Learned Behavior is something an animal learns by interacting with its environment. • Learned behavior is not inherited. • Learned behavior can be changed. • A Learned behavior occurs when an animal has an experience it seeks to avoid or repeat. • For example: A coyote learns to avoid cacti. • Learned behaviors can be taught to humans. • For example: we learn good table manners.